Radiator for motor cars and the like



A. MOND RADIATOR FOR MOTOR CARS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 12, 1926- 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec, 25, 1928.

A. MOND RADIATOR FOR MOTOR CARS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 12. 192e s sheets-sneer. 2

Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,810

- A. MoNp RADIATOR FOR MOTORl GARS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 12, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

eA-.raqNif oFF-ice.

ALBERT IMQND, OF LONDON', ENGLAND.v

`EADIAIJQIE?, FORA'MOTOR CARS SAND THE LIKE.

Application led February-121926, SerialNo. 87,969,'andinGreat lBritain February4 17, 1925.I

This invention relates to a device forindi.- eating aud/or adjusting-the water level .in radiators of motor-cars and the like.

One object of the invention is-.toeprovide means for indicatin the liquid levelin radiators of internal com Y ustion engines of motor cars and the like arranged to cause. a portion of the volume of the gaseous fluid ,displaced by the variations iii said liquid level to` give an indication of the actual level of the liquid in the radiator, and including means toA compensate for the variationsin volume of the displaced gaseous fluid. 1 l

Anothervobject of the invention` is to kprovide means which enable the radiator to be filled to the required level without removing the cap.v Thesefmeans are `:preferably combined with the liquildflevel indicator so that said indicator can beremoved from the radiator capI to 'enable ,the radiator to belled without removing the, cap.

Finally another object of the invention is togcombine the liquid level indicator with a temperature gauge measuring. the temperature of the radiator water.

In the dra-wings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation showing the principle on which theinvention is based.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of one form of construction. l Y

Fig. 3 is a plan viewvof Fig. 2.

Fig.` 4 shows the rad-iatorcap with -a ybayonet Joint. e

Fig. 5 is a-plan of the radiator cap showing the bore required.

Fig. 6 shows asectional `elevation of catchv pot for use when a:liquid-operated*pressure gauge is employed.l

In Fig. 7 shows an upwardly divergent indicator pipe fork liquid-operated pressure gauges.

Fi'g.8 shows ak [funnel shaped attachment for the pipe leadingfrom the radiator to the hei'metically closed chamber, adapted .to preventair bubbles enteringsaid chamber.

Fig. 9 shows an open upright pipeprovidedwith a band attached to thepiper leading to thehermetically closed chamber. adapted` to prevent air passingfrom the cooling liquid of; the radiator tothe hermetically.A closed.

l chamber.

Fi attac ted tothe pipe leading; from-the radia- .'0. 10 showsa hermetically clesedL baille jacent to the cooling medium. level indicator .for simultaneously. indicating the tempera ture'and the liquid level of the radiato-rlcooling medium.

Fig. 12 shows a lhermetically closed chamber iny theform of a. very thin fleXiblemeta-l vbox adapted to be distorted under the influence of pressure into .which leadsthe-pipe from tliecooling water.

Fig. 13 shows a modification `in which a Bourdon tubel hermetically closed chamber.

Referring to 1, l'indicates a vessel, for example the radiatorof avmotor` cai-containingwater. 2 isthe radiator cap` which of course need notfit air-tight.l They radiator cap 2 is provided withy a bore 3 through which passes a. tube .4, extending. upwards for some distance intoz an hermeticallysealed air vessel 5. A tube6 is inserted :through the top of said air vessel yliand immersed with its lower end in av coloured liquid 7 contained .in said air vessel 5. If the water level in the radiator gauge is arranged Withinthe remains stationary the .meniscusin the tube (twill remain stationary. If however,lthe Water level lin the radiator. 1 sinks, the volume ofwater, within the tube 4 ysinksand thereby displaces a corresponding volume of air above said -waterand yreduces the pressure in Vthe air vessel 5, which is indicated by a fall by 11, is provided with an angularv slot 12 adapted to engage with the pin 10y of the spigot member 8y ofthe bayonet joint, springs 13 beingprovided to keep the parts 10 and 11 in firm engagement. Mounted upon the socket member 11l of the bayonet joint are two pillars 14 andlf, fixed by screws 16 and 17 An annular frame 18 ,ofmetal kor of heatnon-conduetingmaterial similarto an opened watch case-iscarried bysa'id illars 14 and I15. Said frame lcarries VVat its the` presthe tube 6 passes.

`the ba onet joint 11.

sure vessel 57 the sump of which is partly illed with a coloured liquid 7. A tube of glass, celluloid or other transparent material 6 dips into the liquid 7 in the pressure vessel 5. A stutling box or rubber joint 19 is provided to insure hermetical closure of the part oi' the pressure vessel 5 through which The upper end ot the tube 6 is held in position by passing'throughf a threaded extension 2O oi the trame 18 provided with a Washer 21 and held by a threaded socket 22 provided with a hole 23 above the open end of the tube 6.

Leading from the top ot said air vessel is a pipe 4 which passes in the shape of a coil into the cooling medium of the radiator through the centre of the socket member o'l rlhe tube 4 is protected ay a metal tube 24 which is ixed to or integral With the lower tace of 'the socket member' 11. The socket member 11 together With the tubes 24 and 4 and its pillar mountings 14 and 15 can be removed trom the spigot member 8 of the bayonet joint by turning the whole apparatus slightly so that the slot 12 becomes disengaged from the pin 10. The pipe 24 can then bey removed from the bore of the sleeve or spigot member 8 ot the bayonet joint. By examining the end of the pipe 4 it can be ascertained to what level the radiator is tilled independently of the indication in the tube 6. Water can then be Vsupplied to the radiator it required through said bore Without removing' the cap 2.

4The pipe 4 is provided with means 25 to adjust its depth ot' immersion into the cooling liquid ot the radiator. The most simple means to permit adjustment is to cut the pipe 4 and interconnect the two ends by a rubber tube 25 or the end of the pipe 4 can be extended by a flexible pipe to conform to curved radiators.

llhe -rame 18 as shown onFig. 3 is pro' vided with Windows 26 and 27 of glass or Vother transparent material which are perforated so as to allow cooling air to pass therey through. These Windows 26 and 27 are held in position by threaded bezel rings 28 and 29, Fig. 3. l/Vhen the Water indicator is notmounted Y on the radiator but kept in a horizontal or inclined position it may happen that the col oured liquid 7 in the pressure vessel 5 enters the pipe 4. To prevent this, a catch pot 3() as shown in Fig. 6 may be provided at any suitable point in the pipe 4 preferably on the top of the pressure vessel 5 as shown in Figi V 6.V This also helps to cool. the gaseous fluid displaced Wit-hin the tube 4 by the variations of the 'Water level in the radiator.

In some cases it may happen that air bubbles are formed in the indicator pipe 6 and these may make the reading inaccurate or may'lead to a loss by ejection of the coloured liquid 7 To prevent this the indicator tube 6 may be made conically upwardly divergent, as shown in Fig. 7 or various other means may be provided for this purpose as Will be explained hereinafter With reference to Figs. 8,r 9 and 10 which show alternative means 'for preventing air bubbles formed in the radiator Water to enter the pipe 4.

The dotted line in these igures represents the liquid in the radiator. In Fig. 8 the means consist of a funnel shaped attachment 31 for the pipe'4. Any air entering the opening 32 oi said Jfunnel shaped attachment 31 will leave through the openings 34 rather than enter the pipe 4.

In Fig. 9, the attachment 31 has the shape of an open upright pipe into which leads a bend 32 attached to pipe 4. Any air rising to the surface in the, cooling Water will pass through the open pipe rather than enter the bend 32 of the pipe 4.

In Fig. 10, the attachments 31 has the shape of an inverted conical bailie. Any air passing upwards Will be displaced sideways and prevented from entering the pipe 4.

As previously stated the attachment 31 shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 1() can also beprovi'ded to the end of the pipe 6 to prevent air bubbles entering thereinto.

In Fig. 11 a thermometer 35 is arranged adjacent to the cooling medium level indicator 6 which thermometer may reach into the Water. j

In Fig. 12 the pressure of the gaseous fluid which is displaced by the variations of the liquid level of the cooling medium of the radiator, is measured by the alterations in the volume of a box 36 made of very thin metal of the kind usedi'or aneroid barometers provided with corrugations 37 on one or both surfaces. Mounted on the upper surface of said box is a raclr 38 of aluminium or other light material engaging with apinion 39 on which` a pointer 40 is lixed, which indicates the variations olf pressure in the 'box 86 on a dial 41. As regards the other details of this embodiment they are similar to those described With reference to Fig. 2, i. e. a pipe 4 immersed in the cooling medium of the radiator is coiled at its upper end so as to compensatefor the heat produced by the heated cooling Water and terminates at the bottom of the aneroid pressure box 36.

lnFig. 13 the pressure chamber 5 is oi' horseshoeshape and is providedwith a circula-r open space 42 Yfor the passage ot' cooling air.` 'The'chamb-er 5 is hermetica-lly closed by metal leaving only a small circular slot open to show the position of the pointer on the dial. Arranged Within the chamber 5 there Vis an evacuated horseshoe shaped tube 43 the ends 44 and 45 of which are connected by levers 46 and 47, to the double arm lever 48 mounted Aupona rack 49 engaging with a pinion 50 carryinga pointer 51 which indicates the variations in pressure in the pres sure chamber 5 on a dial 52. If the cooling medium in the radiator sinks t-he pressure in the pressure box 5 is reduced and the legs 44 and 45 of the horse-shoe shaped Bourdon tube 43 move apart, thereby causing the rack 49 to move towards the right and ydisplacing the pointer 51 towards the left. Below the Bourdon tube 43 a metal baffle plate. 53 is arranged which acts as a cooler or condensing surface, on which any vapours carried away through the pipe 4 can condense, thus compensating for the increase in volume and consequent increased pressure in the pressure chamber 5 caused by the heat in the radiator cooling medium.

The other details of the embodiment of Fig. 13 are the same as those described with reference to Fig. 2,

In all constructions described the indication of the radiator liquid level is visible from the drivers seat in the case of motor cars. If the level should be too low, all that is necessary is to unlock the bayonet joint and pull the pipe 24 with the indicator out of the bore in the socket or sleeve 8. The bore of the sleeve can then be used for filling the radiator to the required level without removing the cap, whilst the end of the pipe 4 can be used for ascertaining the actual level o-f the cooling medium in the radiator by the extent to which the pipe 4 was immersed in said cooling medium, prior toits withdrawal.

I Wish it to be understood that many embodiments may be made Without departing from the scope of the invention. In the em.- bodiments shown I have shown a cooling coil and other cooling means such as perforated windows in Fig. 2 and an open circular space 42, for compensating for the increase in volume of thev radiator cooling water ydue to heating by steam escaping. This is necessary because if the pressure box 5 were heated it would show an increase in the level of the pipe 6 and yet the coo-ling medium in the radiator may actually be lower than it. should be.

. I claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically indicating the level of liquid cooling media in radiators of internal combustion engines of automotive vehicles, comprising a hermetically closed chamber containing a. gaseous fluid, a pipe also containing a gaseous fluid leading from said chamber into the liquid cooling medium, cooling means in the path of said gaseous fluid in said pipe adapted to function under the influence of the air current when the automotive vehicle is in motion, whereby the effect of temperature variations on the gase-` ous fluid within said pipe and said chamber is diminished and means indicating the pressure in said chamber.

2. Apparatus for automatically indicating the level of liquid cooling media' in radiators of internal combustion engines of automotive vehicles, comprising a hermetically closed chamber containing a gaseous fluid, a coiled pipe also containing a gaseous fluid leading from said chamber into the liquid cooling medium, and presenting a large cooling surface so as to function under the influence of the air current when the automotive vehicle is in motion, to diminish the effect of temperature variations on the gaseous fluid within said pipe and said chamber and means indi. cating the pressure in said chamber.

3. Apparatus for automatically indicating the level of liquid cooling media in radiators of internal combustion engines of automotive vehicles, comprising a hermetically closed chamber of very thin flexible metal adapted to be distorted under the influence of pressure and containing a gaseous fluid, a pipe also containing a gaseous fluid leading from said chamber into the liquid cooling medium, cooling means in the path of said gaseous fluid in said pipe adapted to function under the influence of the air current when the automotive vehicle is in motion, whereby the effect of temperature variations on the gase- Y ous fluid within said pipe and said chamber is diminished and means indicating the distortion of said metal chamber.

4. Apparatus for automatically indicating the level of liquid cooling media in radiators of internal combustion engines of automotive vehicles, comprising a hermetically closed shallow chamber of very thin flexible metal` adapted to be distorted under the influence of pressure and containing a gaseous iiuid, a pipe also containing a gaseous fluid leading from said chamber into the liquid cooling medium and means indicating the distortion of said metal chamber said chamber being constructed and arranged to present a large cooling surface so as to function under the influence of the air current when the automotive vehicle is in motion, to diminish the elfect of temperature variations on the gaseous fluid contained therewithin.

5. Apparatus for automatically indicating the level of liquid cooling media in radiators of internal combustion engines of automotive vehicles, comprising a hermetically closed chamber of very thin flexible metal adapted to be distorted under the influence of pressure and containing a gaseous fluid, a coiled pipe also containing a gaseous fluid leading from said chamber into the liquid cooling medium, and presenting a large cooling surface so as to function under the influence of the air current when the automotive vehicle is in motion, to diminish the effect of temperature variations on the gaseous fluid within said pipe and said vchamber and means indicating the distortion of said metal chamber.

In testimony whereof,-I affix my signature.

ALBERT MOND. 

